Welcome to Which handheld should I buy?, the place to get honest, personal advice before you spend your money. There are more handhelds around than ever, from tiny Linux pocket devices for 8-bit and 16-bit games to Android powerhouses and full Windows PCs. The right one depends far more on you than on any spec sheet, so tell us what you want to play and how you'll use it, and the community will help you narrow it down.
What belongs here
• Buying advice for your situation: a first handheld, a gift, an upgrade, a travel device, something for the kids
• Comparisons between two or three devices on your shortlist
• Should I buy now or wait questions
• Accessories that affect the choice, such as grips, cases, docks and SD cards
What doesn't
• Announcements, leaks and launch impressions go in Handheld news & reviews
• Once you own a device, setup and support live in its own forum: Retroid Pocket, AYN Odin & Thor, Anbernic, Miyoo & TrimUI, Steam Deck & SteamOS, ROG Ally, Legion Go & PC handhelds, or Other & obscure handhelds
• Buying, selling or trading between members isn't allowed anywhere on KZE
How to ask so people can help
Copy this into your thread and fill it in:
1. Budget, and in which currency
2. The country you're buying in (availability, import fees and warranty vary a lot)
3. The systems you most want to play, in order of importance
4. Screen preference: size, 4:3 or 16:9, horizontal or vertical, OLED or LCD
5. Pocketable, or happy with something bigger
6. Battery needs: short sessions on the sofa or long journeys
7. Android or Linux comfort: do you enjoy tinkering, or do you want to switch on and play
8. Anything you already own or have tried and didn't get on with
The more honest you are about what you'll really play, the better the answers will be.
Some starter knowledge
• Budget Linux handhelds (much of the Anbernic, Miyoo and TrimUI ranges) are brilliant for older systems, boot quickly and are simple to use. Many owners install custom firmware for a nicer interface and extra features.
• Android handhelds (Retroid, AYN and Anbernic's Android models) are more flexible: you pick your own frontend and emulators, can run Android games and streaming apps, and the stronger ones cope with more demanding systems. They take a little more setting up.
• PC handhelds such as the Steam Deck, ROG Ally and Legion Go play your PC library as well as emulating, but they're bigger, heavier and dearer.
• Screen shape matters more than people expect. 4:3 suits most older consoles; 16:9 suits PSP and modern games.
• Claims about what a device can emulate are often optimistic. Ask owners here about the specific games you care about.
• Line-ups, chips and prices change constantly, so check the latest threads in Handheld news & reviews rather than relying on an old recommendation.
• Buy from somewhere with a clear returns policy, and budget for a reputable SD card.
Rules for this forum
• Be honest about the downsides of the device you love. Fair advice beats fan advice.
• No affiliate links, referral codes or shop promotion. Name the device and people can find a seller themselves.
• Don't recommend a device because it comes pre-loaded with games. We don't discuss sources for pre-loaded SD cards or full sets.
• No links to or requests for ROMs, ISOs, BIOS files, firmware dumps or keys. Dump your own games and BIOS from consoles you own.
• There's no single best handheld. Someone else's choice doesn't make yours wrong.
The small print
The general house rules apply here too: be kind, post in English (anything in another language is translated automatically), no spam, no keyboard mashing and no self-promotion spam. If you spot something that breaks the rules, use Report and the team will take a look. This thread is locked, so please start your own thread here using the template above.
Dexter
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